60 Ft. Dolls
60 Ft. Dolls | |
---|---|
Origin | Newport, Wales |
Genres | Hard rock, Britpop[1] |
Years active | 1993–1998 |
Labels | Indolent Records (UK) Geffen Records (US) |
Past members | Carl Bevan Mike Cole Richard Parfitt |
60 Ft. Dolls were a Welsh rock trio active in the 1990s, known as the Cool Cymru era.[2]
Formation
They were formed in Newport in 1992 by
Tours and 90s success
In 1995 they joined the first 'BratBus'
The band toured extensively in the UK, Japan and Europe, including several summer festival appearances such as
The band recorded two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, in 1996 and 1998,[3] and appear in the top 125 Peel sessions of all time.[25]
Mike Cole once played guitar for Newport's The Darling Buds but was asked to leave after just three gigs. He was also asked to stand in for Paul McGuigan on Oasis' 1996 tour of the US, but declined.[26]
The track "Hair", written by Mike Cole about his then-girlfriend Donna Matthews, was placed Number 7 in Mojo's "100 Most Miserable Indie Songs of All Time" feature.[27]
The Dolls were included, with
Carl Bevan's father, Pastor Ray Bevan, heads one of the biggest evangelical churches in the UK and once sang guest vocals on the Dolls' "Let The Spirit Move You", a
Later history
Richard Parfitt played as a session musician after the band split, working with the likes of McAlmont & Butler and Dido,[6] and later released a solo album called "Highlights in Slow Motion" in 2002.[23] He started teaching songwriting at Bath Spa University[30] and then in 2015 Richard became a senior lecturer in popular and commercial music at the University of South Wales.[31]
Welsh
Carl Bevan took a few years off from music, before getting into producing into 2008.[5] More recently, Carl produced Black Junk, the 2011 album by Cardiff trio Exit_International, which was shortlisted in the 2012 Welsh Music Awards.[5] In 2012 the former 60 Ft. Dolls drummer launched a new project, the female-fronted rock and roll band The Lash.[5]
The Big 3 was re-released as a 2CD special edition in 2015 by 3 Loop Music,[35] including B-sides chosen by the band and tracks from their Peel sessions.[6]
Discography
Albums
- The Big 3 (Indolent, 1996/Geffen, 1997) UK: No. 36[36]
- Joya Magica (Indolent/Geffen, 1998)
- The Big 3 (2CD reissue, 3 Loop Music, 2015)
EPs
- Supernatural Joy EP (Geffen, 1996)
- Hair EP (Indolent, 1996)
Singles
- "Happy Shopper" (Townhill, 1994)
- "White Knuckle Ride" (Rough Trade, 1995) UK: No. 138
- "Pig Valentine" (Indolent, 1995) UK: No. 95
- "Talk to Me" (Indolent, 1996) UK: No. 37[36]
- "Stay" (Indolent, 1996) UK: No. 48[36]
- "Happy Shopper" (re-recording) (Indolent, 1996)UK: No. 38[36]
- "Alison's Room" (Indolent, 1998) UK: No. 61[36]
Compilation appearances
- "London Breeds" on I Was a Teenage Gwent Boy (Frug Records, 1994)
- "Dr Rat" on Club Spangle (Spangle Records, 1995)
- "British Racing Green" on For Immediate Use (Raw, 1995)
- "The Universal" on Long Ago and Worlds Apart (Nippon Crown, 1995)
- "Number 1 Pure Alcohol" on Home Truths (Echo, 1995)
- "Happy Shopper" on Indie Top 20, Volume 21 (Beechwood Music, 1996)
- "Talk to Me" on Indie Top 20, Volume 23 Beechwood Music, 1996)
- "Pony Ride" on London Calling 1 (London Calling, 1996)
- "Talk to Me" on Mad for It (Telstar, 1996)
- "Stay" on The Best Album in The World Ever! Vol. 3 (Circa Records, 1996)
- "Stay" on The Magnificent Seven cassette (Melody Maker covermount, 1996)
- "Baby Says Yeah" on John Peel's Sounds Of The Suburbs (Shifty Disco 1999)
- "Talk to Me" on Shine 5 (Universal Music TV, 1996)
See also
References
- ^ John Everhart, "Caught By The Buzz: A Look Back At Britpop's B-List", Stereogum, 23 April 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. "( 60 Ft. Dolls > Overview )". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
- ^ a b c "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 60ft Dolls". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ I-D, November 1995)
- ^ a b c d e f g "INTERVIEW: Carl Bevan(60ft Dolls, The Lash) - "Prior to 'Cool Cymru', Welsh music was generally ridiculed by the London based industry and had no chance of being taken seriously. "". 25 February 2014.
- ^ a b c Owens, David (17 July 2015). "Britpop, bullets and break-ups - 60ft Dolls remembered". Walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ NME, p.10, 13 May 1995
- ^ The Independent section 2, p. 7, 21 December 1995
- ^ NME, April, 1995
- ^ Wales - Music - 60ft Dolls. BBC (2009-07-03). Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ Select, September 1994
- ^ "60ft Dolls - The Big 3 - Deluxe Expanded Edition / 3 Loop from Piccadilly Records". Piccadillyrecords.com. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Music: Rovers return". The Independent. 20 March 1998. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (4 January 1996). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- YouTube
- ^ "Al Clay | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ NME, 30 November 1996
- ^ Melody Maker, December 1996
- ^ "Select Magazine Website". Selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ Mojo, p.82, April 2003
- ^ 60ft Dolls Discography at Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ Select, May 1997
- ^ a b "BBC Wales - Music - 60ft Dolls - Biography". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Q, July 1998
- ^ Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Sessions - Best 125. BBC. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ The Chart Show, 20 January 1996
- ^ Mojo, p.94, June 2004
- ^ The Observer, 24 November 1996
- ^ 60ft Dolls - Alison's Room (CD) at Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ "Ex-60ft Dolls frontman becomes university lecturer". South Wales Argus. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "60ft Dolls front man Richard Parfitt joins USW to teach Popular Music". Southwales.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ Cavendish, Lucy (17 August 2008). "Duffy: small wonder". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 23 April 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Music. Channel 4. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ NME Album Reviews - Duffy. Nme.Com (2008-02-29). Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
- ^ "The Big 3 Expanded Edition". 3loopmusic.tmstor.es. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e 60ft Dolls at Official Charts Company officialcharts.com